Throttle valve for rock drills



F. M. SLATER.

THROTTLE VALVE FOR ROCK DRILLS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17.1920. 1,407,590, Patented Feb.21', 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- (I g 555 5 R Q INVENTOR. 2 5M 9% %1w; BY 6- v ,4; AT RNEY F. M. SLATER. THROTTLE VALVE FOR ROCK DRlLLS.

' APPLICATION FILED JUL-Y 17,1920. 1,407,590, Patented Feb. 21,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

warren stares FRED M. SLATER, or EAsroN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO INGERSOLL PATENT QFHQE,

-RAND COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Application filed July 17,

T0 aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRED M. SLATER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Easton, in'the county of Northampton an State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Throttle Valves for Rock Drills, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to throttle valves for controlling the supply of motive fluid to the percussive and feeding elements of a fluid operated rock drill of the hammer type, the invention being shown'applied to a stope drill, forillustrative purposes.

The primary objects of the invention are to enable the operator to have more complete control over his'm'achine and secure a throttle valve having a plurality of different rotative positions for carrying out a cycle of operations adapted to conform to the conditions of the work.

Throttle valves have been devised having several different positions of rotation for accomplishing various objects, but I have devised a throttle valve adapted to be oper ated to carry out a cycle including at least six different positions to meet the requirements of the work. One of the principal features of the invention resides in-the fact that I introduce a position inthe cycle which may be termed an intermediate position, occurring after the hammer feed has just started with the air feed fully open and the bleeder from. the air feed open. In the pre vious position of the valve, the object has been to admit some air to the air feed and let out a portion of it so as to produce a pressure less than the line pressure and have thehammer start on light'air feed. This has been called the lazy position or side of the machine. The intermediate position of the valve which follows the lazy position is such that the water supply is just opening, the hammer supply is about one half or three fourths full on, the oil supply is off and the air feed and air feed bleeder are full on. This is substantially the same position as the laz y position but the hammer is stronger to increase the blow and in accordance with this invention the operator is enabled to come to this intermediate position by continuing to turn the throttle in the same direction.

Another important feature of the invention consists of a position of the valve which I THROTTLE VALVE FOB, ROCK DRILLS.

Specification of Letters Patent. patg ted F b 21 192% 1920. Serial No. 397,022.

may be reached in the cycle after the so called full on position. In running full on, the supply to the percussive and feeding elements is fully open but the bleeder from the air feed its closed. My valve however, is so constructed that the air feed may be reduced without reducing the hammer and this is accomplished by opening the air feed bleeder and reducing the pressure in the air feed without slowing up the tool. This pbsition may be said to be substantially the reverse of the lazy position. Furthermore, in accordance with my construction I can obtaln other positions of the valve and control the supply to the hammer with light air feed so that the tool may be kept from crowding into soft ground.

I am enabled to accomplish some of the objects of my invention by providing a two part throttle valve having a lost motion connection between the parts, for distributing motive fluid to both the percussive and feeding elements of the tool, there being ports and passages in each part of the throttle cooperating with ports and passages leading to the percussive and feeding elements for carrying out the cycle of operations hereinafter to be described and claimed.

My improved throttle valve preferably consists of a main plug portion containing motive fluid supply ports cooperating with ports leading to the percussive and feeding elements, and a second plug portion contain ing a port open at all times to the atmosphere and capable of being moved into and out of communication with a port leading from the feeding element. A lost motion connection is preferably provided between the said two plug portions of the valve, whereby provision is afforded for varying the amount of "motive fluid escaping from the feeding element to the atmosphere without changing the supply of motive fluid to the percussive and feeding elements and by this means the force exerted by the feeding element is varied while maintaining any desired supply of motive fluid to the percussive and feeding elements.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear and the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in one of its preferred forms, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in longitudinal section of a stope'drill embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view. of the throttle valve partly in longitudinal section Figure 3 is a detail end view of the valve partly in section looking at the end to which the handle is adapted to be attached,

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the two parts or portions of the plug valve, and 1 7 Figures 5 to 10 inclusive are diagrammatic viewstaken through the valve on the lines 5 59, 5, 5, 5 and 5 to' indicate different positions of the valve throughout the cycle of operations. i 7

Referring to the drawings, the rock drill is provided with the cylinder A of any suitable; or usual form in drills of the hammer type, and any suitable means (not shown) may be provided for imparting rotation to the drill steel B. The hammer cylinder and its operative parts for imparting impact blows of the hammer to the drill steel form the percussive element of thetool.

. The air feed element comprises in'this instance, the usual air feed cylinder 0 hav ing the piston rod D provided with the rock engaging point E. Fluid pressure is admitted to the percussive and feeding elements through the inlet F and the throttle valve forming the subject matter of the present invention distributes the motive fluid to both of said elements. Cleansing water for the machine is admitted at the inlet G and a spring pressed water inlet ing to the percussive and feedingelementsu and a second plug portion 0 having a pa sage P open atall t mesto the atmosphere and capable of being moved into and out of communication with a port shown in Figures 3 and 5 to 10 leading to the feeding element. As shown the passage P communicates with transverse ports and S in the second plug portion of the valve which may be turned into and out of communication with the air feedbleeder port Q. The second plug portion 0 may also be provided with a handle T and a lost motion connection is provided between the two portions of the plug valve, in this instance the main portion K being cut away at U and provided'withthe fiat shoulder V, while the secondplug portion 0 is cut away at W and provided with the angular shoulder or cam surfaces and Y so that when the two the tool to its work.

plug portions are placed together end to end, the cam surfaces X and of thesecond plug portion 0 may rock on thefiat surface forming a shoulder V ofthe main plug portion K. By means of this construc tion the second plug portion 0 having the handle T may be moved through a given angle without moving the main plug portion K. l

The main plug portion K is provided with a groove g in its periphery communicating with the interior of thevalve and adapted to cooperate with the air feed supply port 71 shown in Figures 3 and 5 to 10' for supply ing air to the air feed element of the machine.

An oil port is portion K adapted to cooperate with the oil port is shownlin Figures 5 to 1'0; Themain plug portion-K is also provided with the main supply port 0 cooperating"with the supply port p shown in' Figures 3 and 5 to 10 for distributing motive fiuid to the percussive and rotating elements 'offthe machine. r V

The main plug'portion K may also be provided with-a cam surface 9 on which the plunger 7" of the water valve H bears for operating the water valve in accordance with the movements of the throttle.*

In the operation of the device and referring more particularly to- Figures 5 to '10 inclusive,'it is to be understood that each set of figures from 5 to 10' indicates a position of the valve in the cycleof opera tions. six transverse sections of the valve lettered a, Z), 0, (Z, c, and f-corresponding to the section lines 5 5" 5 5, 5 and 5 in position 1 indicated in Figure 5, allthe ports and passages are shut off'except the air feedbleeder port Q whichis open and prevents any pressure remaining, existing. or accumulating in the air feed.

In positioni2 indicated in Figure 6, the second plug portion of-the valve has been rotated through a small angle clockwise until the-cam surface Y hears uponthe cam surfaceV and then the two-plug portions have been rotated together a sufiicient distance to slightly open the air feed port it and admit sufiicient pressure to raise Each figure includes diagrams v on providedin the mainplug The bleeder Q has been closed by the rotation of the second 7 plug portion 0. All the otherports and passages have remained closed. y

In the third position indicated in Figure 7, the water and oil supply are still closed, but the hammer feed through the ports 0 and p is just starting,.the air feed through the port it is partly open andithe air feed bleeder Q is again open. In this position a certain amount of fluid pressure is admitted to the hammer cylinder and a certain amount of pressure is exhausted from the 7 air feed cylinder inorder to produce a pres:

sure less than the line pressure and permit the hammer to start on light air feed. This is the so called lazy position or side of the tool hereinbefore described.

The fourth or intermediate position is indicated in Figure 8 in which the water supply is just opening and the hammer supply through the ports 0 and p is preferably about one half or three fourths full on. v The oil supply is still closed and the air feeding element through the port it is fully open while the air feed bleeder Q is also fully open. This intermediate position is substantially the same position as indicated in Figure 7 but the hammer is stronger in order to'increase the blow and it is to be observed that I am enabled to reach this intermediate position by continuous movement of the throttle handle T clockwise in the same direction in which movement has been pros ceeding. f

. In the fifth position'indicated in Figure 9 the supply of water and oil to the machine and the supply of motive fluid to thepercussive and feeding elements are full on and the machine is runnin with full power, with the air feed bleeder Q, fully closedl The sixth position indicated in Figure 10 is reached by rotating the second plug portion 0 of the valve backward counter-clockwise without moving the main plug portion K. This is accomplished by rocking the sec- 0nd plug portion 0 on the main plugportion Kand taking up the lost motion between said two plug portions. This slight angular movement of the second plug portion 0 effects the opening of the air feed bleeder Q thus reducing the pressure in the air feed without slowing up the tool.

By continuing to turnthe valve handle 1' backward other hammer positions may be obtained with light air feed as will be ap parent from the diagrammatic figures and the description heretofore given.

Iclaim: l a

1. A rock. drill comprising a percussiv element and a feeding element, bothoperated by motive fluid under pressure, a throttle valve for distributing'motive fluid to both of said elements and ports and passages in said throttle leading to the percussive and feeding elements for carrying out the following cycle of operations when the valve is moved from closed position :first, openingan air feed bleeder toiprevent pressure from accumulating in the feeding element;

secondly, closing the 'air feed bleeder and slightly opening the supply to the feeding element; thirdly, slightly opening the supply to" the percussive element, increasing the supply to the feeding-element and slightly opening the air. feed bleeder; fourth, increasing the supply to, the percussive element,

opening full supply to the feeding element and increasing the air feed bleeder to full opening; fifth, opening the supply to the percussive element and the feeding element to full on position, with the bleeder entirely closed off; sixth, continuing the conditions of the fifth stage with the bleeder full open or varied as desired.

2. A rock' 'dri'll comprising a percussive element and a feeding element, both operated by 'motive fluid under pressure, a throttle valvefor distributing motive fluid to both of said elements and ports and passages in said throttle leading to the percussive and feeding elements for carrying out the following cycle of operations when the valve'is moved from closed position :first, opening an air feed bleeder to prevent pressurefrom accumulating in the feeding element; secondly, closing the air feed bleeder and slightly opening the supply to the feeding element, thirdly, slightly opening the supply to the percussive element, increasing the supply to the feeding element. and

slightly opening the air feed bleeder; fourth,

the percussive element and the feeding element to full on position, with the bleeder entirely closed off; sixth, continuing the conditions ofthe'fifth stage withthe bleeder full open or varied as desired; and lastly by reversing themovement of the valve at any stage, obtaining any of the combinations mentioned in previous stages up to that point in the cycle, in conjunction with any desired opening of the air feed bleeder.

rock drill comprising a percussive element ,and a feedingelement, both operated by motive' fluid under pressure, a two part throttle valve having a lost motion connection between the parts for distributing mosive-fluid to both of said elements and ports and passages in each part cooperating with ports and'passages leading'to the percussive and feeding elements for carrying out thefollowing cycle of operations when the valve is moved from closed position ;first opening an air feed bleeder to prevent pressure from accumulating in the feeding ele ment; secondly, closing the air feed bleeder and slightly opening the supply to the feeding element; thirdly, slightly opening the supply to the percussive element, increasing the supply' to the feeding element and slightly opening the airfeed bleeder; fourth, increasing the supply to the percussive element, opening full supply to the feeding element and increasing the air feed bleeder to full opening; 'fifth, opening the supolv to the percussive elementand the feeding element closed off; sixth, continuing the conditions of the fifth stage with the bleeder full open or varied as-desired. a. a a

4:. A rock drill comprising .a percussive elementand afeeding element, both operated by. motive fluid under pressure, a two part throttle valve having a lost motion connection between the parts for distributingmotive fluid to both of said elements and ports and passages in each part cooperating with ports and passages leading tothe percussive and feedingelements for carrying out the ing; fifth, opening the supply to the percus sive element and the feedingeleinent to full on position, with the bleeder entirely closed offzi sixth, continuing the conditions of the fifth stage with the bleeder full open,

- or varied as desired; and lastly, byreversing the movement of one of the said parts. of the valve at any stage in the cycle, obtain- 7 ing any of the combinations. mentioned in previous stages up to that point in the cycle in conjunction with any desired opening of the air feedlbleeder. V

5. A rock drill comprising a percussive element: and a feeding element, a throttle for controlling the supply of motive fluid to the percussive element and the feeding element, consisting Rof'a plug portion containing motive fluid supply ports cooperating with ports leading to the said percussive and feeding elements, asecond plug portion containing a port open at vall times to the atmosphere and capable of being moved into and out'of communication with a port leading from the feeding element, a lost motion connection between the said two plug portions of the valve, whereby provision is afforded for varying the amount of motive fluid escaping.from,.the feeding element to the atmosphere without changing the supply of motive fiuidto the per- 7 cussive and feeding elements, and thus varying the force exerted by the feeding element while maintaining any desired sup- 7 ply of motive fluid to the percussive and feeding elements. r i I 6. A rock drill comprising a permissive element and a feeding element, a throttle for controlling the supply of motive fluid to the percussive element and the feeding element, consisting of a plug portion contai lil motive fluid supply portscooperat ing withports leading tof the said percussive; and feeding elements, a second p ug" portion containing a port openat all times to the atmosphere-and capable. of being moved into and out of communication with a port leading-from the feeding element, a lost motion connection between saidtwo plug portions of theivalve, whereby .pro-

vision is jafforded for varying the amountof 'motivevfluid escaping from the feedlng element to the atmosphere, without changing the supply ofmotive fluid tothe percuS: sive and feeding elements,'a nd thus vary; ing the force exerted ,by the feeding element while maintaining any desired supply of motivefluid ,tothe percussive and feeding elements, and a handle attached to the sec 0nd plug portion forimanually movingfthe same and for caus ng movement .of the mamplng portion when thelost motion between said portions is taken up by the relative movement of the said: second plugwportion. V

-7. A rock drill comprising a percussive element and a feeding, element, a throttle for controlling the-supply of motive fluid moved into: and out of communicationwith i a port leading from the;fee(lingfelement, a

lost motion connection between the said two plug portions "of the valve, whereby pro vlsioirls afforded-for varying. the amount of motive fluid: escaping from the feeding element to the atmosphere withoutichang mgthe supplyiof-motive fluidzto the percussive and feeding elements, and .thus

varyingthe force. exerted by the feeding 7 element, while maintaining any desired supply of motive; fluidto the percussive and feeding elements, a cam surfaceonthe' main plug portion and a-water supply-valve. controlled thereby. 5 r '1 y :8. A rock-drill comprising. a'percussive element and a feeding: element, a throttle for controlling the supply of motive fluid to the percussive element and the feeding element, consistingof a plug portion contaming motive. fluid supply ;ports cooperating withports leading to the said percussive and: feeding .Ielements,: a second plug portion containing. a port open at all times to .the atmosphere and capable of being moved into and; out of communication with a port leading from the feeding elemenh a lost motion connection betweenthe said two plug portions of the valve, whereby provision is afforded forJ varying the amount of motive fluid1,escaping from the fe dmg element to the atmospherewithout trolled thereby, said cam surface being adapted to open the Water supply valve when the motive fluid supply to the percus- 10 sive element approaches full opening.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

' FRED M. SLATER, 

